Still throwing his head around

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Amyree

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Hi, I have had a lovely Section D on loan for the last 4 months. He is perfect for me and we have done as much hacking in that time as weather has permitted and are getting along very nicely. One thing he does do though after we have been out for a while is start to throw his head around, not so much up but pulls his head down away from me. Turns out he hadn't had his teeth looked at for 2 years so got the dentist out and lo and behold one of his wolf teeth was loose and also lots of sharp edges. Anyway, the dentist I use is fab and sorted all that out, since then he has been better but still pulls his head down after we have been riding for a while. He is ridden in a flash which was already on his bridle, his owner tells me he gets quite strong when excited hence the flash. I really want to take him on permanent loan with a possible view to buy eventually and would like to get to the bottom of this. Is this just a habit he has now and if so, best ways to break it? Or is he telling me he still has discomfort? Thanks x
 
My mare does this but it is more a nodding action.. I would suggest getting his back and saddle checked (with owner permission) as that is what I plan to do because my mare's teeth are seen to every year and are fine! :)
 
My course of action would be to get a vet to do a general check on all the usual - back, lameness (I don't mean a lameness workup but a trot up) etc, and I would remove the flash (ride in an enclosed area to give it a go). The head snatching may be down to habit, if his teeth were causing bother prior, it may be a learned pattern, and the flash may well not be helping that at the moment. It can also be a fitness issue with regard the head snatching/pulling downwards, though you don't mention how fit he is/how much work he has been in and is in now so hard to say.

You also have the option of trying different bits. Quite often as horses progress through fitness and training they can alter in their comfort with different bits.
 
Thank you. He isn't very fit. I don't think his owner had ridden him much for a while and we are only going out once a week at the moment. Something else to mention, he wears a breastplate as his saddle slips back. It is the most beautiful saddle which is why I think she has kept it, not because its the best fit for him! If I take him on permanent loan then my first job will be to catch up with all the usual for him - back check, saddle check etc
 
Amyree said:
Thank you. He isn't very fit. I don't think his owner had ridden him much for a while and we are only going out once a week at the moment. Something else to mention, he wears a breastplate as his saddle slips back. It is the most beautiful saddle which is why I think she has kept it, not because its the best fit for him! If I take him on permanent loan then my first job will be to catch up with all the usual for him - back check, saddle check etc
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My guess would be a fitness thing in that case. Re-reading your initial post he seems to do it after a certain amount of time. If it's after a fairly long amount of time then I would say it's a good chance it's a fitness issue, however I think you should get the saddle checked asap in all honesty too.
 
Try him without the flash, or at least make sure it is loose enough to get a finger under - lots of horses need to just move their jaws a little when the bit is in, and a tight flash stops them. I sent a delightful mare on loan, and the "local expert" told them to have the flash really tight. She began throwing her head around dangerously, she came home, took off the flash and she was her easy happy self again. No, it wasn't the rider, she came and rode her here for many months after.
 
I tend to do a bit of lunging before riding, would have a good thick numnah on, if saddle pinching you cant use it at all.
To be honest I'd try a kinder bit and less noseband.
And a lesson with instructor riding if she can't sort it from ground.
Pulling his head down after a while out hacking suggest you are holding him too tight, hack on a longer rein so he can balance naturally.
 
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My thoughts are unfitness and ...forgive me...can you check how much contact you ride with..its possible that you are hanging onto or not giving with your hands and pony is trying to get you to ease up on his mouth. Just noticed Bonkers2 suggested this..sorry for duplicate advice.
 
Midlifecrisis said:
My thoughts are unfitness and ...forgive me...can you check how much contact you ride with..its possible that you are hanging onto or not giving with your hands and pony is trying to get you to ease up on his mouth. Just noticed Bonkers2 suggested this..sorry for duplicate advice.
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I was more diplomatic!
 
Its probably fitness, my welsh did this when he was coming back into work but now he's a bit fitter (and has more energy as I've upped him feed) he has stopped and will carry his own head instead of leaning on you! :)
 
I had a showjumper that used to do that on the way home, I bridged my reins and put them across the withers so that when he pulled down he pulled against himself. Only had to do it a couple of times, and it was an ingrained habit from his previous owner, and he never did it again. he thought about it a couple of times so I just bridged my reins again and he shut up and carried on normally. he was very sharp so made sure he marched along in a good walk too.
 
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